Concerns over heart risk of child cancer survivors

A new study has raised concerns about the future cardiac risk of people who survive cancer as children.

Research published in the British Medical Journal by scientists at the University of Minnesota found that young adults who survived childhood cancer have a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease at an early age.

This elevated risk remains apparent as late as 30 years after anti-cancer therapy, according to an analysis of data on 14,358 survivors.

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Dr Daniel Mulrooney, assistant professor of paediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School, commented: 'Young adults who survive childhood or adolescent cancer are clearly at risk for early cardiac morbidity and mortality not typically recognised within this age group.'

The researcher suggested that childhood cancer survivors should receive 'ongoing clinical monitoring', particularly as they get older and more prone to cardiovascular disease.

Around 1,500 children are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK, compared with approximately 275,000 adults.

The most common form of cancer that occurs in children is leukaemia, which accounts for around one-third of childhood cancers.

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